By Victor Ogundipe
Ipole-Iloro, host community of the renowned Arinta Waterfalls, has declared its readiness to welcome visitors and stakeholders for the 2026 World Tourism Day celebration scheduled to hold at the tourist attraction on Sunday, September 27.
The Olupole of Ipole-Iloro, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ezekiel Babatola Oladele, JP, said the community was excited to host the celebration, describing the selection of Arinta Waterfalls as a major opportunity to showcase one of Ekiti State’s important natural tourism assets to a wider audience.
The monarch said visitors to the event should expect a rich blend of culture, heritage and hospitality, featuring traditional performances, indigenous arts, heritage displays and local cuisine.
He added that a special Pounded Yam Arena would also be featured as part of efforts to showcase the culinary heritage and hospitality of Ipole-Iloro and Ekiti State.
According to Oba Oladele, this year’s theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” is particularly relevant to Arinta Waterfalls, as modern tourism increasingly relies on digital visibility, online mapping, photography, videography, social media and digital storytelling to attract visitors.
He said the celebration would provide an opportunity to demonstrate how digital technology and emerging artificial intelligence tools could be deployed to promote Arinta Waterfalls, enhance its visibility and attract tourists from within and outside Nigeria.
The monarch noted that photographs, videos, media reports and other digital content generated during the celebration would continue to promote Arinta Waterfalls and Ipole-Iloro beyond the event.
He therefore urged community leaders, youths, women, artisans, food vendors and cultural groups to actively participate in the programme and showcase the best of the community to visitors.
Oba Oladele said the community was fully prepared for the celebration.
«“Ipole-Iloro is ready. Arinta is ready. Our culture is ready. Our food is ready. Our people are ready to welcome the world.”»
The World Tourism Day celebration at Arinta Waterfalls is expected to attract tourism and hospitality operators, digital innovators, students, media practitioners, content creators, youth entrepreneurs, traditional institutions and government stakeholders.
The programme will combine tourism, culture, indigenous cuisine, technology and destination promotion, with stakeholders expected to explore ways of using digital innovation to strengthen existing tourism assets and stimulate economic activities within the host community and the state.
The monarch said the event would also provide an avenue to deepen awareness of Arinta Waterfalls as a tourism destination while creating opportunities for local businesses and residents to benefit from increased visitor traffic.
He called for continued collaboration among the government, traditional institutions, host communities, tourism operators and other stakeholders to develop and promote Ekiti’s tourism potential.
The World Tourism Day 2026 celebration at Arinta Waterfalls is expected to further position Ipole-Iloro and the attraction as a destination for cultural, ecological and adventure tourism in Ekiti State.